'Icing on the Cake' Is As Good As It Sounds
2023-09-17
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1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2On this program we explore English words and expressions.
3We give you examples and notes on usage.
4Today we talk about a delicious dessert made from flour, butter, sugar, and flavorings such as vanilla, chocolate, or my favorite, coconut. We are talking about cake!
5Cake is a commonly served sweet treat at celebrations.
6And the word also appears in several English idioms.
7Back in 2022, we taught the idiom to have your cake and eat it too.
8This means to have the best of both worlds. You do not have to choose between two good things.
9Another expression is a piece of cake. This describes something that is very easy to do or finish.
10Because of all the sugar and butter, we probably should not eat too much cake.
11But it is so good! And sometimes having a lot of something good is better.
12That is the message of today's show.
13Most cakes are made up of two parts: the part made from flour and the sweet topping, or icing.
14Now, a cake without the sweet icing on top is already great.
15After all, it's made with lots of butter and sugar.
16It's sweet and satisfying.
17So, the icing is not really necessary.
18But it makes the cake extra special.
19And that is the meaning of the idiom icing on the cake.
20Something already good is made better by the addition of something else.
21If you describe something as icing on the cake or the icing on the cake, you mean that it makes a good thing even better, or sweeter!
22Let's hear an example.
23She loves her new job and her new co-workers.
24So, getting her own parking spot was the icing on the cake! She hates looking for parking.
25The idiom icing on the cake has another meaning.
26It can be someone's greatest accomplishment or victory.
27Here is an example of that usage.
28He had achieved the highest level of success in the company.
29So, his fancy new title was simply icing on the cake.
30We have another dessert saying that means about the same thing.
31Some cakes or ice cream dishes have a special topping: a sweetened cherry.
32So, if something is the cherry on top, it is an addition that turns something good into something great!
33The Taylors bought the house without even knowing it had a large garden in the back.
34That was the cherry on top since they both love to garden.
35Sometimes we use the 'cherry on top' when making an appeal for assistance.
36Let's say, I really need a friend's help.
37I might say, "Please help me! Pretty please with a cherry on top."
38This specially worded appeal often does the trick and the help comes!
39But, just know that it can also make you sound a little desperate!
40And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
41Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo!
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2On this program we explore English words and expressions. We give you examples and notes on usage. 3Today we talk about a delicious dessert made from flour, butter, sugar, and flavorings such as vanilla, chocolate, or my favorite, coconut. We are talking about cake! 4Cake is a commonly served sweet treat at celebrations. And the word also appears in several English idioms. 5Back in 2022, we taught the idiom to have your cake and eat it too. This means to have the best of both worlds. You do not have to choose between two good things. Another expression is a piece of cake. This describes something that is very easy to do or finish. 6Because of all the sugar and butter, we probably should not eat too much cake. But it is so good! And sometimes having a lot of something good is better. That is the message of today's show. 7Most cakes are made up of two parts: the part made from flour and the sweet topping, or icing. 8Now, a cake without the sweet icing on top is already great. After all, it's made with lots of butter and sugar. It's sweet and satisfying. So, the icing is not really necessary. But it makes the cake extra special. 9Icing on the cake 10And that is the meaning of the idiom icing on the cake. Something already good is made better by the addition of something else. If you describe something as icing on the cake or the icing on the cake, you mean that it makes a good thing even better, or sweeter! 11Let's hear an example. 12She loves her new job and her new co-workers. So, getting her own parking spot was the icing on the cake! She hates looking for parking. 13The idiom icing on the cake has another meaning. It can be someone's greatest accomplishment or victory. 14Here is an example of that usage. 15He had achieved the highest level of success in the company. So, his fancy new title was simply icing on the cake. 16Cherry on top 17We have another dessert saying that means about the same thing. Some cakes or ice cream dishes have a special topping: a sweetened cherry. 18So, if something is the cherry on top, it is an addition that turns something good into something great! 19The Taylors bought the house without even knowing it had a large garden in the back. That was the cherry on top since they both love to garden. 20Sometimes we use the 'cherry on top' when making an appeal for assistance. 21Let's say, I really need a friend's help. I might say, "Please help me! Pretty please with a cherry on top." This specially worded appeal often does the trick and the help comes! But, just know that it can also make you sound a little desperate! 22And that's all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo! 23Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for Learning English. 24__________________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26delicious - adj. appealing to one of the bodily senses especially of taste or smell 27dessert - n. a usually sweet course or dish (as of pastry or ice cream) usually served at the end of a meal 28flavoring - n. a substance added to food or drink to give it a desired taste 29accomplishment - n. an ability, social quality, or skill gained through training or practice 30fancy - adj. impressive 31desperate - adj. being beyond or almost beyond hope